Alabama lands another commitment as Kalen DeBoer builds momentum with 2027 class

With the majority of the work finished for 2026, Kalen DeBoer and Alabama have turned their attention to 2027, landing two commitments this week.
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Kalen DeBoer and Alabama got some good news on Saturday ahead of the highly anticipated home matchup against Vanderbilt. 3-star 2027 CB Nash Johnson III announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide, picking Alabama over Georgia, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt, according to On3's Hayes Fawcett:

Johnson is the fourth commitment in the 2027 class for the Crimson Tide, and the second pledge this week. On Monday, just two days after handing Georgia a loss on the road, DeBoer and company gave the Bulldogs another loss by landing 4-star OL Jatori Williams, who was in Athens on a visit last weekend.

Johnson is a native of Powder Springs, Georgia, and held offers from programs such as Georgia Tech, Auburn, Missouri, Penn State, and Vanderbilt, among others. He's currently a 3-star prospect, ranked only by 247 in the early going of the 2027 class. He's ranked as the No. 551st overall player and the No. 55 CB.

Johnson attended a camp at Alabama back in June, earning an offer after an in-person evaluation by the coaching staff. He's picked up seven additional Power Four offers since the Crimson Tide offered him over the summer.

Nash Johnson is another early evaluation that could pay off for the Alabama staff

Don't get caught up in star rankings, especially this early in the process. Alabama's staff has proven themselves as evaluators. They have an eye for talent, and there have been countless examples of early commits who were ranked highly that skyrocketed up the boards.

Alabama was one of the early offers from 2026 4-star OL Chris Booker before he was even ranked by recruiting services. Rival fans made fun of the offer and subsequent commitment - until their teams started recruiting him heavily.

An early offer paid off majorly for Top 100 DL Nolan Wilson, too. The 2026 blue-chip prospect received his first Power Four offer from the Crimson Tide, and that paid off down the line when his recruitment picked up and he still chose Alabama.

DeBoer and his staff are well on their way to signing another Top 5 class in 2026. They're getting an earlier start on the 2027 cycle with Johnson giving Alabama its fourth commitment. Here's how the 2027 class stands today:

  • 4-star Edge Jabarrius Garror (Mobile, AL)
  • 4-star IOL Jatori Williams (Phenix City, AL)
  • 4-star WR Alexander Ward (Bradenton, FL)
  • 3-star CB Nash Johnson III (Powder Springs, GA)

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